Sophos Techknow - The End of XP [PODCAST]

Welcome to another episode of Techknow, the podcast in which Sophos experts debate, explore and explain the often baffling world of computer security.

In this episode, entitled The End of XP, Paul Ducklin and Chester Wisniewski investigate the what, the why and the how of dealing with the impending end of support for Windows XP in 2014.

Don't worry: even if you have computers that you simply won't be able to update in time, for example because they run bespoke industrial control software, or a legacy financial application, Duck and Chet have some healthy suggestions for you.

They also share some insights into why Microsoft hasn't simply packed all the improved security components from Windows 7 and 8 into the aging XP, leading to the 08 April 2014 deadline.

If you're still wrestling with making the switch away from XP, this podcast will give you some handy tips for the future; if you've already put in the time and effort to move, listen and be reassured that the experts think you've done the right thing!

Note.Sophos Endpoint Security and Control (SESC), mentioned briefly in the podcast, will officially support Windows XP Service Packs 2 and 3 until at least 30 September 2015. SESC will support Windows Server 2003 until at least 31 Jan 2017. (Our support knowledgebase has a complete platform support list.)

Firstly, I think calling our UI "oldschool" is a little harsh. The current version, which is hardly YEARS old (it is years at most) is at least as hip as Windows 7 :-)

Secondly, the thing that annoys many of the people who don't want to leave XP is that they want the security enhancements from Win 7 and 8 under the XP bonnet, but they don't want the "newschool" UI as they're perfectly happy with the one that works for them.

MayI suggest you listen to the podcast? It might clear things up a bit.

The lease doesn't necessarily lock you into XP...but the fact that the lease computer "will vanish automatically" within the next year or two can easily become an excuse not to bother switching.

So it seems some companies are used the ever-diminising pool of lease PCs running XP as a sort of organic retirement process. Instead of getting rid of XP in a timely fashion, let it get rid of itself, albeit behind schedule.

In the podcast, you listed products no longer receiving Microsoft updates as of 8th April 2014 and included Windows Server 2003. According to Microsoft, the end date for support on this product is 15th April 2015?

About the author

Paul Ducklin is a passionate security proselytiser. (That's like an evangelist, but more so!) He lives and breathes computer security, and would be happy for you to do so, too.
Paul won the inaugural AusCERT Director's Award for Individual Excellence in Computer Security in 2009.
Follow him on Twitter: @duckblog